Copy of `Il Dado - Horses and racing terms`

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AbandonedA race meeting which has been cancelled because a club did not receive sufficient nominations to be able to stage it, or because of bad weather which made racing on the track unsafe. All bets placed on abandoned races are fully refunded.

AcceptorA runner officially listed to start in a race.

Accumulator(Also, Parlay) A multiple bet. A single stake is used to generate two or more bets in succession. A kind of 'let-it-ride' bet. Making simultaneous selections on two or more races with the intent of pressing the winnings of the first win on the bet of the following race selected, and so on. All the selections made must win for you to win the accumulator. The punter makes a series of selections ea...

Across The Board(See 'Place') A bet on a horse to win, place or show. Three wagers combined in one. If the horse wins, the player wins all three wagers, if second, two, and if third, one.

AgeAll thoroughbreds count January 1 as their birth date.

AjaxUK slang term for 'Betting Tax'.

All OutA horse who is trying to the best of his ability.

All Weather RacingRacing that takes place on an artificial surface.

All-age RaceA race for two-year-olds and up.

AllowancesReductions in weights to be carried allowed because of certain conditions such as; an apprentice jockey is on a horse, a female horse racing against males, or three-year-olds racing against older horses.

Also RanAny selection not finishing 1st, 2nd, 3rd or 4th in a race or event.

Ante Post(Also, Futures) Bets placed in advance predicting the outcome of a future event. Ante-post prices are those on major sporting events, usually prior to the day of the event itself. In return for the chance of better odds, punters risk the fact that stakes are not returned if their selection pulls out or is cancelled.

ApprenticeA trainee jockey. An apprentice will usually ride only flat races.

ApproximatesThe approximate price a horse is quoted at before a race begins. Bookmakers use these approximates as a guide to set their boards.

ArbitrageWhere a variation in odds available allows a punter to back both sides and guarantee a win.

ARTArtificial Turf.

ATSAgainst The Spread.

AWTAll weather track.

Baby RaceA race for two-year-olds.

BackTo bet or wager.

Back MarkerIn a standing start event, which is handicapped, the horse who is given the biggest handicap is known as the backmarker.

Back StraightThe straight length of the track farthest away from the spectators and the winning post.

BackedA 'backed' horse is one on which lots of bets have been placed.

Backed-InA horse which is backed-in means that bettors have outlaid a lot of money on that horse, with the result being a decrease in the odds offered.

BackstretchThe straight way on the far side of the track.

BackwardA horse that is either too young or not fully fit.

Banker(Also, Key) Highly expected to win. The strongest in a multiple selection in a parlay or accumulator. In permutation bets the banker is a selection that must win to guarantee any returns.

Bar PriceRefers to the odds of those runners in a race not quoted with a price during early betting shows. The bar price is the minimum odds for any of those selections not quoted.

Barrier(Also, Tape) A starting device used in steeple chasing consisting of an elastic band stretched across the racetrack which retracts when released.

Barrier DrawThe ballot held by the race club to decide which starting stall each runner will occupy.

Bat(Also, Stick) A jockey's whip.

Beard (US)A friend or acquaintance or other contact who is used to placing bets so that the bookmakers will not know the identity of the actual bettor. Many top handicappers and persons occupying sensitive positions use this method of wagering.

Bearing In (Out)Go wide on the turns (Bearing Out), running toward the inside rail (Bearing In). Failing to maintain a straight course, veering to the left or right. Can be caused by injury, fatigue, outside distraction, or poor riding.

BeeswaxUK slang term for betting tax. Also known as 'Bees' or 'Ajax'.

Bell LapIn harness racing, the last lap of a race, signified by the ringing of the bell.

BetA transaction in which monies are deposited or guaranteed.

Betting BoardA board used by the bookmaker to display the odds of the horses engaged in a race.

Betting RingThe main area at a racecourse where the bookmakers operate.

Betting TaxTax on a Bookmaker's turnover. In the UK this is a 'Duty' levied on every Pound wagered. Common methods of recouping this by the punter are to deduct tax from returns (winnings) or to pay tax with the stake/wager. In the latter case, no tax is deducted from the punter's winnings.

Bettor (US)Someone who places or has a bet. A 'Punter' in the UK.

Beyer NumberA handicapping tool, popularized by author Andrew Beyer, assigning a numerical value to each race run by a horse based on final time and track condition. This enables different horses running at different racetracks to be objectively compared.

BismarckA favourite which the bookmakers do not expect to win.

Black-typeBoldface type (printed in bold). Horses that have won or been placed are printed in boldface in the listing to easily distinguish them from the rest. Designation for a stakes winner or stakes-placed horse in a sales catalogue.

Blanket FinishWhen the horses finish so close to the winning line you could theoretically put a single blanket across them.

Blind BetA bet made by a racetrack bookmaker on another horse to divert other bookmakers' attention away from his sizeable betting on his/her main horse thus to avoid a shortening of the odds on the main horse.

BlinkersA cup-shaped device applied over the sides of the horse's head near his eyes to limit his vision. This helps to prevent him from swerving away from distracting objects or other horses on either side of him. Blinker cups come in a variety of sizes and shapes to allow as little or as much vision as the trainer feels is appropriate.

Blow-outA short, timed workout of about a mile in distance, usually a day before a race, designed to sharpen the speed of a horse (blow him out).

BoardShort for 'Tote Board' on which odds, betting pools and other race information are displayed.

BobbleA bad step away from the starting gate, sometimes caused by the ground breaking away from under a horse and causing him to duck his head or go to his knees.

BoltSudden veering from a straight course.

Bomb(er)A winning horse sent off at very high odds.

BookA bookmaker's tally of amounts bet on each competitor, and odds necessary to assure him of profit. Running a 'book' is the act of quoting odds and accepting bets on an event and the person doing it is called the 'Bookmaker'.

BookA collection of all the bets taken on fixed odds betting events.

Bookie(U.K.) Short for bookmaker. The person or shop who accepts bets.

BookmakerPerson who is licensed to accept bets on the result of an event based on their provision of odds to the customer. (Sportsbook US).

Bookmaker (Bookie)A person registered and licensed to bet with the public.

BreakageThose pennies that are left over in pari-mutuel payoffs which are rounded out to a nickel or dime.

BreakdownWhen a horse suffers a potentially career-ending injury. The occurrence of injury or lameness in a horse in a race or workout.

Breeders' CupThoroughbred racing's year-end championship. Known as Breeders' Cup Day, it consists of eight races conducted on one day at a different racetrack each year with purses and awards totalling $13 million. First run in 1984.

Breeze (breezing)Working a horse at moderate speed.

Bridge-Jumper (US)Bettor who specializes in large show bets on odd-on favourites.

Buy the Rack (US)Purchase every possible daily-double or other combination ticket.

CanadianAlso known as a Super Yankee. A Canadian is a combination bet consisting of 26 bets with 5 selections in different events. The combination bet is made up of 10 doubles, 10 trebles, five 4-folds and one 5-fold.

CardAnother term for fixture or race meeting.

CarpetUK slang for Odds of 3 to 1 (also known as 'Tres' or 'Gimmel').

CaulkProjection on the bottom of a shoe to give the horse better traction, especially on a wet track.

CenturyGBP

ChalkWagering favorite in a race. Dates from the days when on-track bookmakers would write current odds on a chalkboard.

Chalk PlayerBettor who wagers on favorites.

Change their LeadsSee 'Switch Leads'

ChaseSee 'Steeplechase'.

CheckedA horse pulled up by his jockey for an instant because he is cut off or in tight quarters.

ChuteExtension of the backstretch or homestretch to allow a longer straight run.

ClaimingBuying a horse out of race for entered price. The process by which a licensed person may purchase a horse entered in a designated race for a predetermined price. When a horse has been claimed, its new owner assumes title after the starting gate opens although the former owner is entitled to all purse money earned in that particular race.

Claiming BoxBox in which claims are deposited before the race.

Claiming RaceA race in which the horses are entered subject to claim for a specified price. Each horse entered is eligible to be purchased at a set price. Claims must be made before the race and only by licensed owners or their agents who have a horse registered to race at that meeting or who have received a claim certificate from the stewards.

Client (US)Purchaser of betting information from horseman or other tipster.

Close (US)Final odds on a horse (e.g. 'closed at 5 to 1'). Confusingly equates to 'Starting Price' in the UK.

CloserA horse that runs best in the latter part of the race (closing race), coming from off the pace.

Co-Favorites(also Co Fav) Where three or more competitors share the status as favorite.

Colors (Colours)Racing silks, the jacket and cap worn by jockeys. Silks can be generic and provided by the track or specific to one owner.

ColtAn ungelded (entire) male horse four-years-old or younger.

Combination BetSelecting any number of teams/horses to finish first and second in either order.

Conditional JockeySame as 'Apprentice' but also allowed to jump.

Correct WeightHorses are allocated a weight to carry that is checked before and, for at least the placegetters, after a race. Correct weight must be signaled before bets can be paid out.

Cracking PaceWhen the leader or the leaders of a race run at a very quick speed, usually in the early stages of a race.

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